TANGERANG (August 28, 2023) - The clock strikes 6 am. The bright sunlight began to appear on the eastern horizon. Nursiah's kitchen was already filled with excitement. The clinking of kitchen utensils echoed each other.

Nursiah - familiarly called Yayah, has started her activities since 5 a.m., starting from shopping, to preparing her merchandise. This 32-year-old woman runs a geprek chicken and young coconut business in Tanah Tinggi area, Tangerang City, Banten Province. Initially, the mother of two children received Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT) in 2017. Then, in the same year, her name was registered with the Family Hope Program (PKH).

Since the beginning, Yayah has been selling young coconut ice in the yard. Until 2022, she received an offer of assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs' Nusantara Economic Heroes (PENA) program. If her business is successful, Yayah must be ready to graduate from PKH.

Without thinking, Yayah accepted the assistance. She decided to sell geprek chicken and other side dishes. "Selling ayam geprek is simple. The cooking is not complicated and the neighbors already know my receipt," she said.

Regarding graduation, Yayah was confident in her choice. After all, Yayah has always wanted to be independent without getting help from anyone. "I wanted my hands to be on the bottom, now I want my hands to be on top," she said.

From PENA's assistance, Yayah received the equipment she needed to start a geprek chicken business. The items she received were a table, stove, frying pan, and display rack.

Not only did she receive assistance to start her business, Yayah also received assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs. "Initially, I received an invitation to the Ministry of Social Affairs to meet Mrs. Risma. Then, I showed my merchandise there. After that, I received another invitation to join the training with Tata Rupa Nusantara, where I was given a logo, packaging and how to sell my products," she said.

Tata Rupa Nusantara itself is an independent organization partnered by the Ministry of Social Affairs and is engaged in graphic design to help create product packaging from beneficiaries. Yayah received a total of four mentoring sessions where the PENA beneficiaries were taught about online marketing and financial management of their income.

For turnover, she claimed to have increased. Previously, she only earned a net profit of Rp50,000 from selling coconut ice, but now she earns an additional net profit of Rp100,000 from selling geprek chicken so that in total she earns at least Rp150,000 per day from her business.

In the future, she hopes that her business can be develop even better, "Yes, I dreamt of opening branches," she said with a laugh, confident that her efforts will come true.